Loughborough rowers take 22 trophies home from Bewdley

LOUGHBOROUGH rowers are well on course to achieving captain Keith Hudson’s mission statement for the 2009 Regatta Season requiring that each rower experience victory at least once after their most successful regatta of recent years.

LOUGHBOROUGH rowers are well on course to achieving captain Keith Hudson’s mission statement for the 2009 Regatta Season requiring that each rower experience victory at least once after their most successful regatta of recent years.

Rowers from Loughborough Boat Club rowed to victory on the River Severn at the Bewdley Rowing Club Regatta recently.

Crews competed over the 800m downstream course with excellent weather conditions coupled with enthusiastic vocal support inspiring the Open Veteran Novice Coxed Fours comprising of Shane Frear, Andy Skinner, Richard Goodwin and Mark Meacham to an impressive win in the final against the host club crew.

This was followed by an excellent display of rowing by the mens Open Veteran C Double Sculls duo of Pete Thorp and Andrew Martin.

Thorpe and Martin joined brothers Matthew and Jonathan Day in the Open Intermediate Three Coxless Quads where they overcame long standing rivals Trent in the semi final and Bewdley in the final.

The following day’s course was a gruelling 600 metre sprint. Again, Loughborough rowers demonstrated their technical ability and determination, adding to their ever increasing tally of trophies. This was achieved despite some last minute crew changes with some members having lost their novice status relating to the previous day’s successes.

The performance of the weekend however was produced by the Womens Novice Double Sculls where Gill Hepworth and Julie Paillin powered through the heats before defeating Warwick in the final.

A total of 22 trophies accompanied the team back to their base on the picturesque River Soar following one of their most successful regattas in recent years, with the club on target for the captain’s aim.